A strike of blinding speed and crushing force—C-TAS—I drive it into his heart.
"ARGH—" He vomits blood. Loki feels pain.
What—has his adrenaline vanished? How tragic must his past be?
Ribs—C-TUST—I land it clean. His face twists as the pain takes hold.
The final technique—the one Jiza used before ending his fight with Paragon.
My right fist clenches. I aim for his face, directly above him now—SLASH—I smash him into the ground. The earth cracks as his head hits, the ground around us collapsing as we fall into the rubble.
I rise. He does not.
I stand over him.
The downfall of a warrior. That is the right word for him, in my view.
Loki has fallen—by my hand.
The fight is over—by me. With this absolute power, who could defeat me now?
"Hiro?!" Rose's voice calls out.
I turn toward it. I open my eyes—and my heart stops. My body goes into shock, and I collapse at once.
"HIRO?!" she cries, distant and deep, as my vision fades to black.
---
The rumble of the sea reaches me, mixed with a gentle hum—a soft song sung in a familiar voice. Rose.
I sit up. I am wrapped in bandages and her cloak, my body covered in cuts. How is that possible?
But that man—
"That man?!" I ask.
"E-Eh?" Rose startles. "HIRO?!" She stares at me for a moment, then rushes over and hugs me tightly. "Ugh."
"Finally, you're awake," she says into the embrace.
"That man?" I ask again.
She lets go. "You've been out for two days now. It's been a long journey, Hiro," Rose says.
"Hm?" I murmur.
Rose exhales softly. "Someone came for him—he was covered in bandages. I couldn't do anything, because you were unconscious in my arms."
I move closer and lean against the ship's wooden wall, looking up at the star-filled night and the moonlight.
"I see."
"What is it?" Rose asks. She steps closer and leans against the wooden wall beside me.
"Our journey was watched by the first Vanguard who came to me—his name is Jiza," I say.
"E-Eh? Really?" she asks.
"It seems so. I understand now why he let me go that day," I add.
"Why?!" she asks, again and again.
I lower my head and stare at her for a long moment, blank. My stomach growls.
"Ukh."
"Why?" she asks—again, and again, and again.
I stay silent, meeting her gaze.
"Really? Right now?"
"All right, all right—sorry. ANSWER ME LATER, OKAY?"
---
She hands me a can of food and a can of drink, holding the same in both of her hands.
"So, you haven't had dinner yet?" I ask.
Rose shakes her head. "Not properly—not until you wake up, Hiro," she replies.
"And the last two days, Rose?" I ask again.
She exhales softly. "Hard, but fair. It's only right that I carry the burden after I put one on you—and on everyone—before, Hiro."
"I'm sorry for troubling you, Rose. I didn't realize this journey suddenly brought us back to the sea. Where are we headed?" I ask, again and again.